Close races to be decided Tuesday

John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Sunday November 4, 2012 at 6:00 am

Updated Sunday November 4, 2012 at 2:28 pm

It's decision time for voters.Former Gov. Mitt Romney, having secured the GOP nomination for president after a bruising primary, is promising the country prosperity, 12 million new jobs and an era of fiscal austerity and political conservatism in Washington.

It's decision time for voters.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, having secured the GOP nomination for president after a bruising primary, is promising the country prosperity, 12 million new jobs and an era of fiscal austerity and political conservatism in Washington.

President Barack Obama, after reminding voters he stabilized an economic crisis that awaited him in 2009, is trying to convince them to keep moving forward with his approach to American prosperity while warning against a rollback on health care, manufacturing and financial reform initiatives.

The drama of the down-to-the-wire presidential contest that embodies partisan divides around the country is serving as a potent political backdrop for a contentious $60 million Massachusetts race for the U.S. Senate between Republican Sen. Scott P. Brown and Democrat Elizabeth Warren.

One of a handful of close Senate races that could determine whether Republicans take control away from Democrats, it has been locked in a near tie, according to most polls.

While marginal leads swung back and forth, both candidates have mounted full-tilt final media blitzes and on-the-ground campaign operations to capture the advantage in the run up to Election Day.

Mr. Brown, who became a rising star in the Republican Party after winning an upset victory in 2010 to serve out the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's term, is staking a renewed claim to political independence while advancing a conservative fiscal agenda.

A critic of economic stimulus spending and vocal opponent of national health care reforms, he is calling for cuts in taxes and spending to reduce the deficit and create jobs, while promising to be a voice for moderation amid the partisan paralysis that has enveloped Congress.

The Democratic challenger, Ms. Warren, is making her first run for office and has cast herself as a champion of a middle class under great economic stress. A former White House economic adviser and a professor at Harvard Law School, she is advocating for middle class tax cuts, supports Obamacare and government investment to create jobs.

She frames the choice as “Whose side are you on,” saying voters can choose a candidate favoring the middle class or the wealthy and powerful, who she says have rigged the system.

She has focused on fighting for equal economic status for women and reproductive freedom against conservative Republican values, along with investments in infrastructure, research and education.

Mr. Brown is closing his race under the theme of putting “people over party,” citing examples of his willingness to cross party lines to solve problems, while backing Mitt Romney for president, promising to protect women's right to choose while guarding the state's businesses from excessive government regulation and taxes.

Campaign officials predict turnout will be higher than the 55 percent in 2010, an election that did not feature a race for president or senator. In 2008, turnout was 74 percent.

For Congress, Democrat U.S. Reps. James P. McGovern of Worcester and Richard E. Neal of Springfield are unopposed in newly redrawn congressional districts that has Massachusetts losing one House seat.

Democrat U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas of Lowell, whose district was expanded to include most of northern Worcester County, is being challenged by Republican Jonathan A. Golnick of Carlisle. Voters in the new Fourth Congressional District that includes Milford, Hopedale and Hopkinton, will choose a new congressman, with Republican Sean Bielat of Norfolk making a second run for a House seat. He faces Brookline Democrat Joseph P. Kennedy III, son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, and Independent David A. Rosa of Dighton. The menu of choices for voters, who can cast ballots between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday, doesn't end with those marquee races.

All of the members of the state Legislature are up for re-election, with many key races to be decided throughout Central Massachusetts. Both House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, D-Winthrop, and Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth are facing challenges in their districts.

Voters will also decide whether to directly adopt new laws to allow physicians to provide drugs to chronically ill and suffering patients that would allow them to end their lives and whether to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients in Massachusetts and set up a system of regulated dispensaries. Another ballot question would require automakers to share vehicle diagnostic and repair information with independent repair shops.

Democrats will keep majority control of both the House and Senate on Beacon Hill again, with only about one-third of the 200 lawmakers facing challenges at the ballot box. But whether Republicans will gain or lose seats after adding to their minority strength two years ago, in part with election of a handful of new GOP representatives in Central Massachusetts, is in the hands of the voters.

Republicans currently have only four seats in the 40-member Senate and have fielded only eight challengers to Democrats, including two in Central Massachusetts. Sen. Michael O. Moore, D-Millbury is facing Republican Stephen R. Simonian of Auburn and Sen. James B. Eldridge, D-Acton, is being challenged by Republican Dean J. Cavaretta of Stow.

On the House side, Republicans added 22 new representatives in 2010, and while two-thirds of House incumbents are unopposed this year, battles are under way all over Central Massachusetts for district seats.

State Rep. James J. O'Day, D-West Boylston, is being challenged by Republican William J. McCarthy of Worcester and Independent Winthrop E. Handy. State Rep. John J. Binienda, D-Worcester, is facing Republican William G. LeBeau of Leicester.